The Pious Pelican

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Myth of the peculiar pelican Whose bill bloodies its feathery breast Feeding blood to the chicks in its nest Ancient acts ever evangelic Sole sacrifice for the pelican Whose beak speaks more than a relic can 36 Words 6 Lines Light Verse Pelicans appear in Christian iconography as symbols to verify Christ's self-sacrifice. Attributions to Dixon Lanier Merritt (often mistakenly credited to Ogden Nash) for authorship of the popular Pelican Limerick. Bite Size Poem No. 16 Sponsor: Line Gauthier

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Andrea Dietrich

Date: 9/6/2021 8:28:00 AM

oh I really like this and what a clever word play on pelican!!!

Greg Gaul
Date: 9/6/2021 9:35:00 AM

You can thank Ogden Nash or his followers. The rest is hundreds of years of religious myth. Blessings.

Gary Radice

Date: 8/23/2021 6:20:00 AM

Very clever Greg and very interesting notes too. I had to google more. I found out that they are symbols of love, sacrifice (as you kindly pointed out) and motherhood. I never knew that. If there's a verse about a bird that can make me research links with Christian iconography then..this peli-can. :) Cheers - Gary

Greg Gaul
Date: 8/23/2021 8:33:00 AM

Gary, you are special. Most don't care to know. Others are off putt by the gory description. Yet, this symbol raged through minds of the faithful for hundreds of years and mainly survives in stained glass on cathedrals in Europe. How little we know of our own Christian history. And does it concern us that such tales were spun? Thanks. Clever last comment too!

Sara Kendrick

Date: 8/8/2021 5:56:00 AM

Congrats on this winner. I did not know this about the pelican. Good information. Sara

Greg Gaul
Date: 8/8/2021 6:28:00 PM

Sara, thanks for your comment and interest.

Christuraj Alex

Date: 8/2/2021 7:14:00 PM

Great write on Pelican. Beautiful Creation. Congratulations on your win!

Greg Gaul
Date: 8/8/2021 6:29:00 PM

Appreciate your commentary. Thank you.